Industrial Technology introduces new Agricultural Systems Management option degree

(September 30, 2016) – The Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology is offering a new agricultural systems management (ASM) option for its bachelor of science degree through the department of industrial technology starting this fall.

The curriculum will help prepare students for managerial and leadership roles in production agriculture, food processing and packaging, applied engineering & technology and quality systems.

The ASM option’s curriculum was approved by Fresno State in April and will include courses from the agricultural business, animal sciences & agricultural education, food science and nutrition, plant science, viticulture & enology and industrial technology departments.

“The new option is an important way to expand on our department’s mission to offering state-of-the-art skills-building and learning experiences,” said Dr. Athanasios Alexandrou, industrial technology department chairperson. “Students can integrate a mix of courses from different departments to better prepare them for managerial positions in the San Joaquin Valley agriculture community, especially as it continues to integrate new, more efficient methods and technologies.”

The option was developed with input and support from Central Valley industry stakeholders to meet a need for managerial and technology leadership positions in the nation’s leading agricultural area.

Both freshmen and transfer students from community colleges are eligible to enroll in the program. Jordan College students majoring in other departments could also enroll as a double major with an ASM option.

Joseph Kryger, a sophomore from Le Grand, is interested in all parts of the agricultural production process since his grandparents owned a vineyard and his mother works as an auditor and has agricultural business clients.

“After talking to Dr. Alexandrou, I was impressed with the wide variety of technical skills that are necessary in the ag industry. I’m particularly interested in irrigation systems and the technology is always advancing in delivering water more efficiently. This option is the best of both worlds for me career-wise and there are a lot of great hands-on options to learn about the field on the campus farm. Being able to return to my family’s roots and hopefully helping make a difference in agriculture in the Central Valley is really appealing.”

The new option will appeal to a department that is growing quickly and had 127 undergraduate students enrolled in the fall of 2015 – 58 percent more than its enrollment in the fall of 2011.

Besides the new option, the department also offers a bachelor of science degree in industrial technology, minors in industrial technology and precision agriculture technology, and a master’s degree in industrial technology.

More information on the industrial technology department is available at http://fresnostate.edu/jcast/indtech/index.html or by contacting department chairperson Dr. Athanasios Alexandrou at 559.278.2145 or aalexandrou@csufresno.edu.